Process of sterilizing fluids.



y 9. v n M 0 a 7 mm g a, @m w 4. M m a w m P Y i ww/m s 3 m 0 W w a M g W 35 water throughout.

CHARLES B. BARTLEY, OF PITTSBURG, "PENNSYLVANIA.

, PROCESS OF STERILIZING ELUIDB.

To all whom it my concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES B...BARTLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg in the county, of Allegheny and 5 State of ennsylvania, haveinvented 'certain newand useful Im rovem'ents in Processesv of sterilizing Flui s, of which the fol- 'lowin' is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

M invention refers to a process for the Eu cation-of water or other fluids or gases y electricity and consists in the method of subjecting the water in sta es to the operation of a combined constantly traversing current and a co-acting intermittent spark gap of high frequency, or to a series of such currents and-spark gaps corresponding-to the sta es, in the manner hereinafter described.

n-the drawings accompanying the invention I have showna diagrammatic arran ement of the circuit connections, termina s, etc, anda'sectional view of the water tank,

illustrating-the process; In said drawlngs, the tank is-shown as comprising a lurality of cells 2 within outer in'closin we 8 3 of any suitableconstruction-or 'mensions, the cells 2 being arranged,

in series and divided by partitions 4, 5, the partitions 4 extending upwardly from the bottom to a-point below the to of the tank,

partitions 5 extending from t e top of the tank=downwardly to within a short-distance of the bottom, said partitions alternating so as toproduce an undulating flow of the That is to say, when the water is introduced into one end of the tank from a supply pipe p it flows upwardly over the top of partltion 4 into the next adjacent cell 2, downwardly under partition 5 to the next adjacent cell, upwardly over the next partition 4 and then downwardly, and so on through the entire series of cells to the point of exit.

As represented-in the drawings, the cells 4- may be arranged intwo rows side by side,

the partition between the end-most cells havin the underflow opening as shown, where y the water may be passed to the end cell of the next series and then backwardly in the same manner to the last cell and outwardly therefrom throughra suitable outlet opening 7. By this arrangement the entire volume of water passes through the series of cells in stages, '11. e., .the entire volume contained within the series of cells is divided by Specification of Letters Patent.

1 Application filed August 6, 1908. Serial No. 447,186.

cells for both the constant an Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

the several partitions into volumes defined by the cell cavities, each' of such volumes, in the construction shown, being subjected to the sterilizing effect of the direct current and disru tive discharge, whereby the whole volume 0 water in passing through the cells is successively operated upon at closely adjacent intervals.

In carrying out the invention, which has in view to sterilize the water electrically by the use of electric currents, either A. U. or

D.O., I have found that the best results as to the precipitation of germsand other impurities are secured by the use of the D. C. nasmuch as the great majority of available currents are of the A. C. type, the invention involves the use of rectifiers with A. C. currents, for which purpose I em loy potash spark gap currents together with the other: electrical elements and installation shown in the dia gramand' as hereinafter described. 4

Within each cell 4 and 5 respectively are mounted the terminals 8, 9, respectively, both submerged below the Water at bottom and top and adapted to transmit the con stant D. C. current therethrough. Arranged some distance above the normal water level of each cell is a spark ga terminal 10, the

spark gap being indicate between said ter minal and the terminal 8, at a. Terminals 8 are connected with one pole of the generator G, preferably in series of six eachfiby common trunk line conductors 11 through suitable switches or other make-and-breal: mechanism 12.

13 re resents a series of potash cells provided with anodes 14, 14, of aluminum and intervening cathodes 15 of copper oxidized. Anodes 14 are connected by branch line 16 with trunk lines 11 leading to lower terminals 8, while cathodes 15 are con nected directly by conductors 17 with the upper terminal 9. The other anodes 14 are connected by conductors 18, mercury tubes 19 and lamps 20 and trunk line conductors 21 throu h suitable switches or other makeand-brea elements 22, with the other pole of generator G. Mercury tubes 19 are inserted in the circuits of any predetermined tension in the Well known manner of mercury tubes when used for such' purpose, the lamps 20 acting to interpose suitable resistance. By this arrangement it will be seen that alternating currents pass from one side of the generator throu h said elements and the potash cells and 9 to be converted into direct currents.

11 is a branch conductor leading ofl from conductor 11 of the generator and connected through suitable switches or other devices 23 and branch connections 17 with anodes 14" of a separate series of potash cells 13 for rectifying the other side of the current for te rminals 8, while the other anodes 14' of said series of potash cells 13 are connected by said conductors 18' through suitable switches or other devices 24 and amps or resistance 25, with the main trunk conductor 21 leading to the other pole of the generator, as described. The copper oxidized cathodes 15 of cells 13 are connected by conductors 17 to an armature 26. Said armature 26 is provided with a tilting mercury tube 27 adapted to open and close the circuit therethrough, a contact terminal 28 connected with one pole 29 of a local battery 30, and an energizing ma -net 31 connected with the other pole of said battery, as shown in the diagram. Mercury tube 27 is connected by a terminal 32 'with the primary element 33 of an induction coil'connected by conductor 34 at the other end with the conductor 11, and also by branch conductors 17 with the anodes 14" to establish a return through the potash cells. The induction coil is also connected .by conductor 35 with one side of the condenser 36,

also connected with branch conductor 17,

7' the Tes a oscillating coil T o to establish connection with the cathode 15 of the potash cells 13. The secondary electrode 37 of the induction coil is connected by conductor 38 with the primary 39 of a Tesla oscillating coil T, the other terminal of said electrode 37 and primary 38 having secondaryelectrodes 40 and an interposed condenser 41.

42 re resents the secondar electrode of 10000 ohms, while in series with the secondary 42 are condensers 43, 44, for both outlets 11, 11, of the lower terminals 8, to prevent the direct current from running back -to the secondary coil 42, each condenser controlling the series of six spark gaps. 1 In the return conductor 45 of spark gap terminals 10 is inserted a condenser 46 connected with the other terminal of the secondary 42 of the Tesla oscil-. lating coil T. By this construction, it being a fact that a D. C. will not flowthrough the condenser, I form a make-and-break 1n the primary coil to set up oscillations in the secondary coil, thereby giving a static discharge across the secondary electrodes 40, which are strapped across the condensers 41..

na'lly to the upper terminals r The primary electrode 39 of the Tesla oscillating coil '1 is in six turns of No. 10 copper wire, opgosing secondary coil 42 of 10000 ohms. n the return of the spark gap current from the terminals 10 above the water tanks, to said secondary coil 42, and during.

the transmission of the through the water in the compartment 2, 'of high resistance and resulting limited elec" trical flow,-the spark gap in each compartment creates ozone or allotro'pic gas.

The operation of the invention is carried on continuously, the water flowing success sively through the several cells or compartments and being subjected in'each to the sterilizing process of the directcurrent and spark gap, finally flowing outwardly as described. The sterilization is thus rendered thorough and com lete, the operation is progressive and resu ts in con: plete preci itation of all impurities and thorough steri 'zation of the water.

It will be understood that the number of cells, their dimensions, arrangement, etc., may be varied and that the electrical installation may be changed or modified by an electrician to suit va 'ng conditions as to volume or quality. ere D. C. currents are available, it will be understood that the rectifying otash cells may be dispensed with, there by sim lifying the. insta ation.

. The process is va uable in purifying any fluids or gases and will be found to give satisfactory results in practice.

What I claim is 1. The process of sterilizing fluids consisting in establishing a direct current through the medium to be sterilized between immersed current terminals and simultaneously inducing a disruptive discharge through direct current an immersed terminal and an outer terminal,

substantially as set forth.

2. The rocess of sterilizing. fluids consisting in esta lishing in stages through the medium to be sterilized a series of direct currents between immersed current terminals and simultaneously inducing a corresponding series of disruptive discharges through said medium'and the atmosphere between immersed terminals and outer terminals, substantially as set forth. In testlmony whereofl aiflx my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. BARTLEY.

Witnesses:

C. M. CLARKE, CHAS. S. LEPLEY. 

